Floating shelves are a great way to add storage space to any room. They can be used to hold pictures, decor items, clothes and books.
Shelf brackets are L-shaped pieces of wood or steel that support the actual shelf as well as the weight of the items on top of the shelf. The type of bracket to choose depends on the location of the shelf, how you want the shelf to look, and the amount of weight expected to be supported.
Bracket Installation Process
Start by identifying where your brackets will be located and mark the points you intend to drill with a pencil or marker. Make sure the holes are aligned to ensure a level shelf.
Measure the length of the bracket to allow ample space between each hole. Do not drill too deeply to maximize the available brackets fully.
Find The Right Wall Studs
Wall studs are vertical pieces of wood that form the framework of the wall. If your bracket is intended for wall stud application, you may need to first identify its position in your wall. Wall studs are typically placed 16 inches apart from each other.
You can use a stud finder to locate wall studs. Slide the finder horizontally and pencil mark each wall stud you come across. Electrical outlets are normally attached to a stud; thus, measuring about 16 inches from a socket can help you pinpoint the other wall studs quickly.
How Much Weight Can a Bracket Hold?
Generally speaking, for every wall stud your bracket is attached to, your shelf can support 50 pounds. Therefore, a shelf placed on three brackets attached to three different wall studs will support 150 pounds. Metallic brackets support more weight than wooden brackets.
When calculating the total weight that brackets can support, identify the capacity of one bracket and multiply by the number of brackets you intend to use. A heavy-duty shelf bracket is capable of holding up to 600 pounds of weight.
The weight which such a shelf can hold is largely dependent on the length and thickness of the bracket. Brackets of the same thickness but different lengths will not support the same weight. A bracket that is 8” in length and ⅜” in thickness will hold a mass of 260 pounds, while one with a ½ “thickness will hold 470 pounds.
Brackets intended to be directly applied on drywall typically hold less weight than those being applied to wall studs. The brackets become virtually invisible once the shelf is added.
Drywall brackets 10, 20, and 30 inches in length support a weight of 200 pounds. Those measuring 40 inches can carry 300lbs, while those measuring 50 to 60 inches can hold 500 pounds.
Despite the ability of brackets to carry much weight, it is important to use high-quality mounting gear during bracket application to prevent your shelf from collapsing. Add dowels to the shelf structure in order to reinforce the brackets and increase their overall weight capacity.